With a couple of days left for the local body election, campaigning has gained momentum in Chikkaballapur.
The candidates of almost all the parties have been visiting houses individually, cajoling the voters to support them in the election.

While some of the candidates have even sought the help of the State-level leaders of the party to campaign, others have even brought in the stars of the filmdom to lure the voters’ heart.

BJP leaders invited actor Saikumar to campaign in favour of their candidates while PGR Sindhia campaigned for BSP candidate.

The election seems to have changed the scenario in Chikkaballapur with people of all ages participating in the campaigns. In all the wards, that teams distributing pamphlets and seeking the voters’ support was a common scene.

In each ward banners of various parties are flaunting symbols, including religious signs, to impress the voters.
Some of the women members of the parties have even gone to houses with ‘arishinia, kumkum’ to seek votes.

In almost all the wards, afternoon lunch was arranged for residents and also for the party workers and followers.
Even non-veg dishes featured in the menu at these lunch sessions while liquor bottles were found freely circulated at night. It was said that the election has come as boon for the liquor shops who have been witnessing better turnover these days. 

While the children get Rs 50 per day, elders get from Rs 100 to Rs 200 and women are given in advance Rs 500 to Rs 1000, for participating in the campaign.

Labour shortage

As most of the labourers have been involved in campaigning, there is shortage of workers for agricultural works and even to load lorries.